Prediction of Adjustment in a Group Residence; A Pilot Study

Appropriately matching an adolescent in need with a suitable group residence home is imperative as it serves no one for a child to be placed in an unhelpful environment. The authors conducted a study of boys at a residence of the Association for Jewish Children in order to outline basic criteria that might be used in evaluating the suitability of a group residence for adolescent applicants. Though in need of refinement, these factors were deemed relevant for consideration in determining placement for applicants. The authors concluded, in order to enlarge their range of helpfulness, that the group residence needs to be firm in refusing unsuitable applicants, that its child-care staff will be more effective if better-trained and more committed to long-term employment, and that the residence could work to improve factors such as physical limitations and psychiatric care.